It’s always fun to profile sleep prospects who have a real chance to do something and today we go to the Show Me State to learn more about a 6-foot-1 pitcher/hitter who comes from the same club program that produced Oklahoma freshman phenom Paige Parker.

Will lightning strike twice? It’ll be interesting to find out!

Name: REAGEN “REGGIE” KANAGAWA
High School: Blue Springs North
City: Blue Springs
State: Mo.
Grad Year: 2018
Club: KC Originals – CK 14U
Position(s): P/3B/1B/OF
Height: 6-foot-1
GPA: 3.9

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Pitches: righty who throws in the low 60’s and has a fast drop, change, slow drop, curve, rise and screwball.

Club Stats: in the 2015 preseason, Reggie played in three tournaments – 16 and 18 A – at PGF, ASA and USSSA events in which her team went 17-2.

Pitching: in eight games in the circle the freshman went 7-1 with a 1.13 ERA and 47 K’s in 35.7 innings. Opponents only hit .203 against her with a .247 on-base percentage.

Hitting: bats left-handed and in 19 games Reggie hit .543 with an on-base percentage of .762. She had 23 RBI and hit .633 with runners in scoring position.

Club Honors: 14U – selected as a “Top Performer (USSSA 14U) Select Elite, Midwest Region, finalist for All-American team; 12U – selected KC Top Gun 14U All-American (chosen by opposing coaches); 10U – Mo./Kan. MVP

High School Stats:

Pitching: 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 25 Innings; 28 Ks and four walks as the No. 2 pitcher behind two-time All-State honoree Alexis Reid, a Kansas commit.

Hitting: batting average of .333

High School Honors: Only underclassman on 29-2 team which won conference and district championships at 4A level, the largest in Missouri; in track lettered in the shot put and discus.

Recruiting Situation: has offers, but not looking to commit until the end of 2015 high school fall season and “only then if it is a ‘right fit’ offer.” Reggie is starting to schedule unofficial campus visits and has interest from BYU, Texas and Kansas among others.

Coach’s Comments: “Reggie’s mental approach to the game in the circle is outstanding. She’s a good athlete capable of playing multi-positions with a live bat.”
— Terry Cunconan, Head Coach of the Originals

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10 Questions with Reggie…

FullCountSoftball.com: What’s something many don’t know about that makes you special?
Reggie Kanagawa: I’m ambidextrous, can juggle and play the ukulele… but not at the same time!

FCS.com: What’s been your favorite experience so far between the lines?
RK: As a 12-year-old, I guest pitched for the 18U Gold KC Originals when Paige Parker (freshman at the Univ. of Oklahoma) attended senior prom and I recorded a “W.”

FCS.com: What motto or philosophy do you live by?
RK: “Follow your dreams…”

FCS.com: What are you looking for in a college?
RK: I’m looking for the right fit including a program that consistently—or is building toward—competing for a National Championship at whatever level that the program is participating. I really want to attend a college where I can start and end my education at the same school—I don’t want to have to transfer.

Also, I want to play for the right coach, the right coach, the right coach – a coach to help me get better and that really loves the game!

I’m dreaming here, but it’s be great to be where the softball weather is nice too: low humidity and warm temps, without lots of rain or snow, minimal rainouts and no snow outs! Dreaming aside, I will definitely play in the rain and cold for the right program/coach/fit. I want to be considered both as a position player and pitcher.

FCS.com: Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
RK: Yes, spending quiet time in the car sipping peach tea prior to and between games.

FCS.com: What’s the one thing you think you do best on the field:
RK: Picking-up teammates on the field. We are never out of it!

FCS.com: What’s an area you want to work on in your game?
RK: Throwing the riseball on different planes and having more consistent location on the rise.

FCS.com: What other sports do you play and what’s been some of your bests accomplishments?
RK: I have earned varsity letters in track—the shot put and discus—as a freshman and had the third longest freshman discus throw in the state. I’m missing some track meets for travel softball, but some of my discus throws at practice have approached the school freshman all-time record. I also played my first full season of basketball ever in 2014 and anticipate playing varsity and lettering in 2015.

FCS.com: Describe yourself as a softball player in one word…
RK: “Competitor!”

FCS.com: What do you want to study or do as a career after your playing days are over?
RK: I want to study Occupational Therapy; I was inspired by the Originals’ participation in the Blue Springs Softball Exceptionals’ League with kids who have special needs.